Representatives of the waste working party, from left: Councillors Rosalind Wright, Andrew Wiltshire, and Julie Brociek-Coulton
Another new service is set to be launched in Norwich over the coming weeks to make us even more of an eco city.
Norwich City Council is introducing a weekly food waste collection service to over 50,000 properties in the city, to help slash the amount we send to landfill.
Councillor Steve Morphew, leader of Norwich City Council said: “People living in the city have been asking for this scheme, and we are really pleased we are able to bring them this service. We’ll be the first council in Norfolk to introduce this service to the majority of residents.
“By providing people with a service that is simple to use and easy to access, this should dramatically improve the amount that we currently send to landfill.”
Everyone who has their own wheelie bin will automatically receive this new service. Collections of food waste in the city will use a kitchen caddy scheme, and it is estimated they will help boost the city’s recycling rate to over 50 per cent, while dramatically reducing landfill tonnages.
All of the current services available in the city including the garden waste collection scheme, and dedicated glass collection - the only one of its kind in the county - will also still be operating. The food waste collections are an additional service for people in the city to take advantage of.
And the use of new vehicles that can collect more than one thing for recycling at a time, means a reduction in congestion and carbon emissions, as the use of multi-purpose vehicles leads to fewer vehicles on the road and less journeys being made.
Households that will receive the service will be sent an introductory information leaflet in a couple of weeks outlining the new service, what can go into the bins, and answering questions people may have.
Kitchen caddy packs will be delivered to the same households later this year in September/October, telling people more about how to use the service, and when their collections will be.
Councillor Julie Brociek-Coulton, Labour party member of the waste working party, said: “This is yet another good way that Norwich City Council is helping the residents of Norwich to recycle. The food waste collection service is an excellent opportunity to get rid of your kitchen waste weekly and slim your bin.”
Councillor Adrian Ramsay, Green Party member of the city council’s waste working party, said: "The food waste collection scheme will take food waste out of black bins and increase recycling rates. This service is an important step forward in improving recycling facilities for Norwich residents and I hope it will soon be expanded to include flats."
Councillor John Fisher, Conservative member of the city council’s waste working party, said: “This is an exciting initiative which I hope residents will support. Although the food waste will initially be composted it is actually a very valuable energy resource and I hope that eventually it will be used in an anaerobic digester to produce electricity of green gas. There is so much more potential for food waste than just landfill.
“Food waste collection also has the benefit of allowing individuals to see exactly how much of their food bill thrown out and thus leads to less food being purchased and wasted.”
Councillor Ros Wright, Liberal Democrat member of the city council’s waste working party, said: “The food waste collection service, alongside reduction of waste, and recycling, should provide an excellent opportunity for Norwich to improve its waste record still further. I look forward to seeing it in action."
Norwich has seen its recycling rate double in a two year period, and in the latest figures from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (defra) is placed in the top ten of authorities from across the whole country for reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill in 2008-09.
What can I put in my new waste food bin? (921 Kb pdf)